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(No Model.)

J. O. OORAM. SWITCH FOR CASH RAILWAYS.

Patented June 10 u. Pn'ins Phuwbihognpher, Wnhmgton, c. c

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JOHN C. CORAM, OF LOIVELIJ, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE DENNIS CASH CARRIER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SWITCH FOR CASH-RAILWAYS.

ESPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,223, dated June 10, 1884.

Application filed May 5, 1884. (No model.) I

. cient means for shunting cash-carrier balls from the main track onto their appropriate branch and side tracks. Various mechanical devices have heretofore been devised for the purpose. The shunting device which I employ has been designed more particularly for use with cash-carrier balls of varying sizes,

and may be described as an elevated guiderail which bridges the main track at or near its junction with the side or branch track upon which it is desired to shunt certain ones of the balls which travel on the main track. The guide-rail is placed at such a height as to permit all of the balls to pass under it except those particular balls which are to be shunted. The latter balls are of sufficiently large size to strike against the guide-rail, and the latter is so positioned that it will deflect these balls, which, guided by the said rail, are directed from the main track to the side orbranch track. I can, if I please, make the device which I have termed guide-rail adjustable in height, so that it may be used to intercept and shunt varying sizes of balls, as may from time to time be desired.

The nature of my invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into efiect will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a section of track of a cash-railway at the junction of the main track with a side or branch track. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the guide-rail and its supporting-brackets, representing one arrangement by which the rail can be adjusted to different heights above the track.

In this specification, by the term main track I intend the track from which the balls are to be shunted, and by the term guiderail I intend not merely a rail, but any strip or piece which will act to deflect the balls'from the main to the side or branch track.

This guide-rail, as hereinbefore stated, is elevated above the track and bridges the same-that is to say, is so placed that it will intercept only balls above a given size.

In the drawings, A is the main track. B is abranch or side track. Both are made in the customaryway. Bridging the main track A is the elevated guide-rail 0, supported by brackets E. The edge of this rail, with which the balls to be shunted come in contact, is curved somewhat, and the rail is set slantwise over the track A, sothat it shall conform 1n a general way to the direction of the rail a of the branch track B. As the cash-carrier balls travel down the main track those which are small enough to pass under the guiderail continue on down the main track; but those which are too large to pass under the guide-rail strike against it, and are by it deflected onto the side track. This is indicated in Fig. 1, where x is one of the smalls balls,

and y is one of the large balls. The direction of travel is indicated by the arrow.

To better prevent the balls from jumping the track at the junction, and to guide them on their several ways, I make use of a piece, D, which may be termed a guide-frog. This guide-frog is beveled in both directions, as seen at b c, leaving a longitudinal ridge, (1, in the center, which forms a guide-rail for the balls that are to continue on the main track, and at the same time does not interfere with the deflecting of the large balls. To better insure this result the frog is thinned down as it leaves the junction of the two rails to which it is fitted, so that at its outer end the ridge d is far enough below the level of the track not to interfere with the balls. set a little slantwise, as seen in plan, Fig. 2.

As hereinbefore intimated, it may be desirable to alter the elevation of the guide-rail from time to time. This may be provided for, obviously, in many ways-for instance, by making the supporting-brackets E adjustable up and down, or by making the rail adjustable up and down with reference to its brackets. The latter arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the guide-rail is provided The frog also is with stems e, which fit in sockets f in the brackets E, and are there held at any desired elevation by means of set-screws g.

The advantages of my improvement are found in its efiiciency, simplicity, freedom from complicated mechanism, and entire certainty of operation. There are no moving parts to get out of order, and no shifting devices such as required in many cash-carrier switches.

Having describedany improvement and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, What I claim as new and of my own invention is 1. The combination of the main track, the side or branch track, and the elevated guiderail bridging the main track, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of the main track, the

'my hand this 28th day of April, 1884:.

JOHN G. CORAM. Witnesses:

A. T. ATHER'ION, HIRAM SPEAKING. 

